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Joanna Madison brought many important lessons to the Girl Scouts who attended a recent Pillowcase Project session at the American Red Cross Gold Country office in Sacramento. But perhaps most important of all was this:

“Nothing in this world is more valuable than you.”

The Pillowcase Project, sponsored by Disney, is a preparedness education program for grades 3 – 5 that teaches students about personal and family preparedness, safety skills, local hazards, and basic emergency coping skills. Upon completion, students decorate a sturdy pillowcase which they can fill with personal emergency supplies.

With messages like “Turn around. Don’t drown,” and “Get low and go,” Madison cautioned her young students not to let curiosity get in the way of safety. These easy-to-remember phrases, combined with information about what to put in a preparedness kit and how to handle feelings in an emergency, can make coping with a disaster a little less stressful for 8- to 11-year-olds.

Haley Cantu, one of the Girl Scouts who attended the session, learned how important it is to practice a two-minute fire evacuation plan and stay informed.  “You should do what an officer tells you to do if there is an emergency,” she said.

Haley’s sister Veronica took home some important safety tips, too. “If there is a flood don’t walk in it,” she said. “Or if there is a fire, find the nearest exit, either by a window or back door, and don’t wait to grab anything—just get out quick.”

Their mother, Jessica, said she will be assembling a backpack with emergency supplies like a flashlight, batteries, money, water, some food or snacks, band aids, and medication. Another takeaway for her: “Keeping that pillow case under the bed, ready to grab with things that you need—maybe a brush tooth brush, or change of clothes,” she said. “Simple stuff to get you by.”

Madison and other Pillowcase Project presenters have provided this valuable safety training to 374 students through the Gold Country Region since July 2016. Their goal is to reach 2500 students by June of next year.

 

 

 

 

Prepare, respond, recover.

Every year, the American Red Cross Gold Country Region team works hard to carry out its mission of alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies.

In recent months, volunteers and staff have supported relief efforts for people displaced by wildfires in California, floods in Louisiana, and a hurricane in the southeast. Over the past year, Gold Country Disaster Assistance Teams have responded to over 700 incidents, mostly home fires.

Without the generosity of our donors, these responses would not have been possible.

We would like to thank the following supporters of our 2016 Red Cross Golf Classic, whose sponsorship helps make the Gold Country Region stronger and more prepared each day.

Title Sponsor               Integral Investment Advisors

Dinner/Auction           TD Ameritrade

Lunch                              Anheuser Busch

Breakfast                       Formulation Technology

North Course               PG&E

Volunteer                     Encore Glass

VSP Global

Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuks/Black Oak Casino

Hole-in-One              Niello Audi

Mazda of Elk Grove

Appetizer                   Rancho Murieta Country Club

Adopt-a-Hole          Nationwide Insurance (2)

Rancho Murieta Homes & Land

Superior Signs

Family First Mortgage

VSP Global (2)

AFLAC

Jackson Rancheria

ServPro of Rancho Cordova

Sysco (2)

Marcus H. Bole & Associates

 

Red Cross Gold Country searched far and wide for a Youth Services Coordinator, and recently found the talented Sheri Bethoney. Sheri joins us after previous work with National Geographic and USGS.

As the Youth Services Coordinator, Sheri coordinates the Red Cross Clubs at high schools and colleges throughout the region. Red Cross Clubs empower students with knowledge and life-saving skills to help prepare their schools and communities to respond to emergencies. Several robust clubs meet regularly around the Sacramento area, and Sheri is looking to expand the program into more schools throughout the region.

Sheri is very familiar with the local school districts, having lived in Sacramento most of her life. Outside of work, she loves learning, hiking, and listening to music.

If you know a student who would like to start a Red Cross Club at his/her school, please contact Sheri at: Sheri.Bethoney@RedCross.org

By Denise Nordell, Volunteer

Even if you’re not great at math, this equation makes sense.

Recently, Red Cross volunteers gathered in the Modesto office to assemble 1,200 information kits for distribution to area seniors. The preparedness items and safety information were provided with support from The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as part of an effort to better prepare seniors and other home-bound individuals for emergencies.

But how to get these important kits into the hands of seniors? Modesto Red Cross staffer Victoria Donoso has both a passion for serving elders and close ties with Catholic Charities in Modesto, which administers many programs for seniors, including transportation. Victoria reached out to her contact at Catholic Charities and a plan was soon formed.

In short order, Red Cross volunteers assembled the bags and delivered them to Catholic Charities. Soon the kits were on their way to the people who could best use them. Many were delivered by members of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) who often support the Modesto Red Cross office. RSVP volunteers receive the added benefit of reimbursement for their mileage logged in service to seniors.

The kits will also be distributed at Red Cross events and key educational events held by SEAPA (Stanislaus Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance).

In an equation like this, everyone wins:

+ The Red Cross fulfills its mission of preventing suffering

+ DHS accomplishes its goal of disseminating potentially life-saving tools

+ RSVP volunteers perform a vital service to seniors

+ Catholic Charities clients receive contact and support

=  Most importantly, 300 seniors will be better equipped to contend with a disaster if one should occur.

 

By Heath Wakelee

On Monday, August 15, the phone rang while I was giving a disaster preparedness talk at the Marriott Hotel in Rancho Cordova. Ten minutes later, I looked at the phone and saw a Disaster Assistance Team (DAT) response request. Three adults needed help. I called Teresa Cameron to see if she would find someone to go on the call.  She volunteered to go herself. Yeah, Teresa!

I left Rancho Cordova, picked up Teresa in Roseville and we raced up to Auburn to find none of the three occupants of the single-family home at the scene.  One of the occupants was driving up to Nevada County, so we called Disaster Program Manager (DPM) Tami Martin.  Tami then called and asked Ned Russell from our Northeast Chapter to assist the client.  Thankfully, Ned agreed.  We left Red Cross contact information at the fire location.

That night I went to sleep at 9:30 because my alarm was set to go off at 4:00 A.M. so I could help out at the Channel 13/31 telethon for flood and fire victims. I wasn’t asleep for long. The phone rang at 1:30 A.M. with another fire call in Auburn: seven adults and two children.  I called Beryl Mayne and she said she could respond.  Others were hard to come by, but Herman Buckley in Roseville agreed to go.

I checked my phone again.  Another DAT call.

This one was for one adult in Roseville, so at 1:45 A.M., I called Teresa—again.  She is great!  She said she could respond, so I turned the Roseville call over to her.  Teresa called Arry Murphy and the two headed off to eventually find two adults with one child needing assistance. (Very frequently the head count is different from what we are initially told and often the address is close, but not 100% accurate.  We deal with the situation we find when we get there.)

Into the car. I headed for the Red Cross office in Auburn, where Beryl, Herman and I planned to meet.  Our call was in a remote part of Auburn and we finally arrived at about 2:45 A.M.  We ended up with three family units all needing assistance.  At 4:00 A.M. we headed to the Auburn office to get WiFi reception so we could activate their Client Assistance Cards (CACs).  Finally finished, we called the clients to inform them that their CACs had been activated and told them what their case numbers were.

Teresa and Arry did a great job on their call in Roseville. Now I could try to be a perky person and answer phones in West Sacramento. I arrived at the telethon at about 6:15 A.M. and had a good, positive experience.  That is, until around 1 P.M. when my head was hurting from hitting the table (not really, but I was tired). Janelle Weiner (our temporary Lilly Wyatt, Communications Director) asked if I would like to come back at 5 P.M. for a TV interview and I politely declined.

I headed home to do the DCSOPS reports and finally napped at 4:00 P.M.

Placer DAT had three DAT calls in 12 hours—a record for Placer County.  We did it and could have handled another call or two.  Placer DAT rocks!  Thanks again to Teresa, Arry, Beryl, Herman and Ned.

American Red Cross Closes Trailhead Fire Shelter at the Gold Country Fairgrounds
Urges Residents to Prepare Now for Future Wildfires

Auburn, CA, July 2, 2016 – The American Red Cross will be closing the evacuation shelter at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Placer County as of 1:00pm this afternoon.

Mandatory evacuation orders were lifted last night in Placer County resulting in no clients spending the night in the Gold Country Fairgrounds shelter in Auburn. However, the evacuation shelter at the Golden Sierra High School in El Dorado County will remain open until further notice.

“We are very pleased with the progress that has been made on containment of the Trailhead Fire and happy to know there wasn’t any damage to homes,” said Lilly Wyatt, Director of Regional Communications and Marketing for the American Red Cross. “We hope it continues to progress in a positive way for the next days.”

Red Cross volunteers will begin performing damage assessments and distributing bulk and cleaning supplies to residents of Foresthill today and tomorrow.

The Trailhead Fire is just one of the wildfires burning across the state and we know that California is prone to more wildfires due to the five-year drought. The American Red Cross urges residents to take steps now to stay safe when wildfires threaten.

“By preparing together for wildfires, we can make our families safer and our communities stronger,” Wyatt said. “We can help you and your family create a wildfire preparedness plan now, before our community is threatened.”

As with any disaster, preparation can be the difference between life and death. The Red Cross recommends that individuals and families prepare for wildfires by:

• Downloading the free Red Cross Emergency App. The Red Cross Emergency App contains tips on how to assemble an emergency kit and how to create a plan so all household members will know what to do in case they can’t make it home or they have to evacuate.
  • “Family Safe” is a unique feature that allows users to notify loved ones who are in an affected area. They can also use the app to let people know that they are safe. The app has a map with open Red Cross shelter locations and a toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light and alarm. Preparedness content is available in English and Spanish. People can download the app in their app store or by going to org/apps.

• Creating and practicing a wildfire evacuation plan. People should learn about wildfire risks in their area and know what to do if one occurs. Plans should include a place outside the neighborhood in case family members cannot get home or need to evacuate.

• Creating an emergency preparedness kit. Pack a first aid kit and a seven-day supply of essential medications, foods that don’t require cooking or refrigeration, a manual can opener, bottled water, flashlights and a battery-powered radio with extra batteries, copies of important documents like your insurance policies, cell phone chargers, family and emergency contact information, maps of the area and other emergency items for the whole family. Set aside household items that can be used as fire tools (e.g. a rake, ax, shovel, bucket, chain or hand saw)

• Heeding news reports. Listen to local radio and TV stations for updated information. If threatened, be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice as wildfires can be unpredictable. Contain pets to one room so they can be located easily. Back vehicles into the garage or park it in an open space facing the direction of escape.

• Preparing your home. Select building materials and plants that resist fire. Regularly clean the roof and gutters to remove flammable debris. Identify and maintain an adequate water source outside the home, such as a small pond, cistern, well or swimming pool. Make sure driveway entrances and the house number or address are clearly marked.

For more information on what to do before, during and after a wildfire, people can go to redcross.org/prepare/disaster/wildfire.

 

People can also follow the Gold Country Region of the American Red Cross on Twitter at @RCSierraDelta or @RedCrossNECal.

 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

 

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Placer County, Calif., June 29, 2016 — At the direction of emergency and fire officials, the American Red Cross is moving the evacuation shelter from Foresthill High School to the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn.

The evacuation shelter will be set up at the Sierra Building inside the fairgrounds located at 1273 High Street in Auburn, California 95604.

Yesterday, about a dozen evacuees from El Dorado and Placer counties showed up at the Foresthill High School shelter in Foresthill.

“It was a very stressful night for everyone since they are given only a few minutes to evacuate,” said Robin Brinson, Shelter Manager for the American Red Cross Gold Country Region. “At the shelter, we’re providing a cooling area, water, snacks and a place to rest and wait until fire officials give them the green light to return to their homes.”

At this time, it’s critical to follow the instructions provided by local emergency workers. If you are asked to stay in your home, don’t try to leave. If you are not allowed to enter your neighborhood, please come to a Red Cross shelter until conditions are safe for you to return home.

The Red Cross encourages those who plan to stay in a Red Cross shelter to bring prescription and emergency medication, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, important documents and other comfort items.

For more information on what to do before, during and after a wildfire, visit our website: redcross.org.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.

The Gold Country Region serves a twenty-four county territory including Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba counties.

For more information, please visit redcross.org/GoldCountry or cruzrojaamericana.org. Stay up to date by following us on Twitter (@RCSierraDelta | @RedCrossNECal) or join the conversation on Facebook’s Sierra-Delta Chapter Page or Northeastern California Page.